Armourer

40 years, 5 feet 6 inches high. 


Fair complexion, grey hair, strong made, a heart tattooed on one arm. 


(Bligh adds to this description, "This man declared to me publickly when I was in the Boat that he knew nothing of the transaction and begged of me to remember he told me of it and that he was kept against his consent.")


 The Bounty armourer, also known as 'Josiah', Coleman was 5'6" tall, with fair complexion, gray hair, strong made, and had a heart tattooed on one of his arms. 

His was truly a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  He was a highly experienced naval veteran, the equivalent of a high-level petty officer, with a spotless military and personal record. 

From what little is know of him, it appears that he was a true "straight arrow".   He took no active part in the mutiny, but was ordered to remain on the Bounty due to the need for carpenters and armorers. 

Choosing to remain on Tahiti in the hope of rescue and return to England, he moved in with a group of Tahitians at Matavai Bay.

He was one of the four mutineers who voluntarily came on board the 'Pandora' immediately after it docked to report the mutiny to Capt. Edwards. 

To their somewhat naive surprise, they were immediately placed in irons.  However, along with Norman, he was soon released and put to work on board the ship, manning the pumps. 

Upon his return to England, he was tried and acquitted.   Joseph Coleman's application to be admitted as a pensionner at Greenwich Hospital listed his only sea service as follows:
* AB, Discovery (21 Mar 1776 - 21 Oct 1780) - Total service being 4 years, 7 months, 2 weeks and 6 days.
* Armourer, Bounty (31 Aug 1787 - 22 Oct 1792) - Total service being 3 years, 1 month, 3 weeks and 4 days.
 
The application, 24 Nov 1792 - Warrant, 14 Feb 1793, entered 18 Feb 1793.  Address: Spanish Galleon, Greenwich.  The Spanish Galleon was one of the local inns owned by the hospital.  It stood close to the current Spanish Galleon Public House.  The present day one is located at 48 Greenwich Church St., London SE 10.